Unknown Odyssey

A humanoid creature was apparently running toward where he was. Actually, there were hundreds of them, and they seemed to be locked in a furious battle amongst themselves while charging in his direction, destroying and throwing trees around like twigs. He gulped, feeling the battle grow more intense and closer. The ground vibrated violently, collapsing one of the buildings and filling the whole place with dust, reminding him of the dangers of staying put.

Composing himself, he took out the map from his backpack and studied it hurriedly but carefully, searching for anywhere he could find safety. Looking at the map, he saw that the humanoid creatures were coming from the north, while the field he was currently on was directly in their path. Panicking, he thought about heading south, but that would be suicidal—the fight would likely continue southward, and there was a hill he would have to cross. He also had no guarantee that he could outrun the creatures.

His eyes darted across the map, and he noticed some cave systems to the west and a few separate caves to the northwest, not too far from the fields. Weighing his options, he decided that heading west toward the cave systems would give him the best chance for survival. The caves might offer shelter and a place to hide, and the distance seemed manageable compared to the other directions.

Realizing he had to move quickly, he sprinted westward, keeping a steady pace while avoiding obstacles and staying alert for any signs of danger. The ground continued to tremble, and the sounds of the battle behind him grew louder. As he ran, he glanced back and saw the chaos unfolding—the humanoid creatures were engaged in a brutal fight, their roars and clashes echoing through the air.

Enel pushed himself harder, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't afford to slow down. Every second counted. The cave systems were his only hope. The landscape began to change as he approached the western edge of the field. He looked back and saw the humanoid creatures more clearly now. They were gigantic, towering at least 90 meters tall. Compared to them, he was like a tiny ant. They were still some distance away from the field of ruins, but the sight of their sheer size made his legs feel like jelly. Straining himself, he ran as fast as he could. The dense foliage gave way to rocky terrain, and finally, he could see the entrance to the caves in the distance.

Breathing heavily, he reached the entrance of the nearest cave. He paused for a moment to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. The cave was dark and foreboding, but it was his only chance to escape the impending danger. Steeling himself, he entered the cave. Taking the lamp from his backpack, he slid one of the glowing gems inside, illuminating the cave faintly as he moved deeper into its shadows.

Inside, the cave was cool and damp. The faint drip of water echoed off the walls, and the narrow passageways twisted and turned. He made his way through cautiously, the eerie silence amplifying his every step. The further he went, the more unsettling the cave seemed. He stopped halfway through one of the passageways, sitting still with the lamp illuminating him and his surroundings. Curling up like a ball, he muttered, "Damnit, isn't this too much for a fourteen-year-old?"

Despite his words, he wasn't sure what someone his age was supposed to go through, but he doubted other fourteen-year-olds had experienced even half of what he had in the past few days. With those thoughts, he hugged his knees tightly. The rumblings outside grew louder, and the cave trembled from time to time, though it still held firm. *Damn, just how big were those trees?* he thought. A loud noise suddenly echoed, as if a massive tree had just fallen. Covering his ears, he felt the cave tremble violently, as if it were about to collapse. Looking around in panic, he waited for the shaking to stop. Eventually, the tremors subsided, replaced by faint rumbles that told him the battle between the giants was moving away, heading toward the hills. He wondered what had instigated such a furious battle.

After some time, the previous chaos was replaced by the quiet stillness of the cave. Looking around in his small circle of light, he said to himself, "Well, it's time to get to work."

He returned to the entrance of the cave and froze, his jaw dropping at the sight before him. A severed giant arm lay sprawled across the ground, easily 30 to 40 times his size. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming. "This must have been what made the loud noise earlier," he muttered in disbelief.

Shaking off his shock, he decided to head back to the field to gather wood. He needed to start a fire to warm himself and roast the meat before nightfall. When he arrived at the field, the devastation left by the battle of the giants was staggering. Trees were uprooted, the ground was scarred with deep gashes, and the ruins were in an even worse state than before. Among the destruction, he spotted the massive bodies of five dead giants, their colossal forms lying motionless. Sighing, he focused on his task, gathering wood from the field. The buildings had been reduced to debris, making it easier to scavenge for materials.

After collecting enough wood, he returned to the cave. If not for the giants, he might have thought the day had gone relatively well. As he reached the entrance, he noticed dark clouds gathering in the sky, signaling an approaching storm. He glanced back at the severed arm, still awed by its size, before retreating into the cave.

Sitting in front of the fire he had built, the sound of thunder echoed outside, reminding him of the rain. He turned the meat over the flames, watching it roast with bored eyes. "I don't think this meat will last up to a week, and I also doubt a week's time is enough for me to find a way out of here," he muttered to himself.

A few minutes later, the meat was sufficiently roasted. Taking out the knife, he began cutting pieces for himself to eat. Afterward, he put the remainder into the sack. Looking at the flames while eating the meat, he thought to himself, *A shame I didn't have some spices for the meat, but it still tastes okay. Thankfully, I learned a few cooking skills from Grandma Lisa. I wonder how well I would have fared in this situation.* His thoughts drifted back to the village, to the few moments before disaster struck.

It was a cool evening, just after combat training. Enel lay under the huge tree at the back of the village's training building, tired and catching his breath. The sound of the other boys from training carried over from the bathhouse. Their chatter turned to loud laughter, erupting in waves that grated against his already frayed nerves. Sighing, he muttered to himself, "Do they always have to be so loud?"

He barely had time to process his annoyance before he heard the sound of light footsteps approaching. A shadow fell over him, and a familiar voice cut through the stillness.

"You're obstructing my view of the sun," he said with annoyance.

He cracked one eye open to see her but quickly closed it again, letting out a tired sigh. "What do you want, Grandma?" he replied, his tone heavy with exhaustion.

"Grandma? Haven't I told you to stop calling me that? Do I look old to you? I am a *very* young lady by world standards," she retorted, clearly upset by his jab.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," he muttered dismissively, eyes still closed. "But you're not fooling me."

Even with his eyes shut, he could tell his comment had ticked her off. She didn't seem truly angry, though—she was used to his sharp tongue by now. Letting out a resigned sigh, she sat down beside him, her long, silky red hair catching the breeze. Her supple figure cast a shadow over him as she adjusted her position, her tall frame towering slightly as she looked toward the bathhouse.

"Why aren't you taking your bath along with the others?" she asked, her tone carrying a knowing edge.

"I'm catching my breath. I'll do it in a few minutes," he replied, offering an excuse she wasn't buying.

"That's quite a nice excuse," she said with a sly smile. "Catching your breath, or waiting for them to leave before you take yours?"

Enel opened his eyes to meet her gaze, her amethyst-like purple eyes filled with gentle concern. She knew him well—knew he didn't want to come into contact with the other villagers.

"Okay, you caught me. Now, can I watch the sun in peace?" he grumbled, irritation creeping into his tone.

She didn't press further but softened her voice, her next words tinged with care. "Enel, why haven't you forgiven them yet?"

The question hit a nerve. His face darkened as anger bubbled beneath the surface. "Really?" he snapped, sitting up and glaring at her. "Those people *tried* to kill me! And remind me why? All because of some stupid resemblance!" His voice rose with every word. "They didn't even give me a chance at friendship!"

She didn't flinch, her expression steady and understanding. She could see how deeply his anger ran but wanted to instill wisdom in him. "I know how you feel," she began gently, "but you were all still kids back then. And they were made to apologize to you publicly."

"Apologize?" he scoffed, sitting up straighter and gesturing wildly. "Come on, we both know that meant *nothing*. There wasn't a single hint of remorse on their faces! How could kids their age feel so much resentment?" He sighed, his tone shifting to something quieter but no less bitter. "And besides, I already forgave them and was trying to forget. Thanks for the reminder," he added with a sarcastic edge, turning away.

She wasn't deterred, her voice patient but firm. "Look, what I'm trying to say is this: you shouldn't harbor resentment or anger in your heart. Too much of it can poison your life and mindset. It will only cause you pain and regret in the end. Forgive them, Enel. Put it all behind you and let them receive justice from life itself. Don't chase revenge. Instead, advocate for peace. If it doesn't work..." She paused, her voice growing softer. "At least you'll know you tried your best before acting otherwise."

Enel studied her for a moment before letting his gaze drift toward the bathhouse. The other boys were beginning to emerge, finished with their baths and laughing loudly once again. He sighed and stood, brushing dirt off his clothes. "I think I'm rested enough... It's time to have my bath," he said, his tone lighter.

As he walked toward the bathhouse, her voice called after him. "Remember—never let revenge guide your actions!"

He raised a hand in acknowledgment, signaling that he heard her. "Thanks for the pep talk," he muttered under his breath, feeling just a little lighter.

She stayed where she was, leaning back against the tree and closing her eyes for a moment. The cool breeze rustled the branches above her, and for a moment, everything felt still.

But that stillness didn't last. She stood abruptly, her gaze snapping toward the entrance of the village. From where she stood, a figure appeared, moving with a purpose,materialized beside her and leaned in, whispering hurried words into her ear.

She didn't respond right away, her eyes fixed on the figures that were at the entrance of the village. Her jaw clenched tightly, and she muttered under her breath, "Shit."